DELI EU Law Careers Panel Event

Panel 1, moderated by Raphaella Christoforou, covered EU law careers in the UK, featuring Durham alumni Samuel Brown, a Senior Associate in Competition Litigation at Hogan Lovells, and Viviane Bablin, a solicitor specialising in Criminal Defence and Extradition at Janes Solicitors.

Panel 2, moderated by Paris Hadjicostis, explored EU law careers in EU institutions, featuring Tzeitel Muscat, a lawyer at the Council of the European Union, and Walter Schuster, a Data Protection Officer, Ethics and Anti-Fraud Officer and the Deputy Head of Legal at Fusion for Energy.

Panel 3, moderated by Alexandra Shemagina, discussed EU law careers in the EU, featuring Durham alumni Julia Bowley, a PhD Candidate in EU and International Trade Law with experience as a British Embassy Policy Officer and as an intern in Switzerland, Isabel Sanchis Ros, a legal intern at the Council of Europe, Emilia Vrahimi, a PhD Law Researcher at the European University Institute, and Georgina Hadjifrangiskou, an Agriculture Attaché at the Permanent Representation of Cyprus to the EU.

Each panellist provided valuable insights into their career trajectory, their day-to-day engagement with EU law, and, for several of the Durham alumni speakers, how their time at Durham helped equip them for their respective fields. DELI is especially grateful to all the panellists for generously giving their time and expertise. Their reflections gave students a practical and engaging insight into the many different ways in which EU law can shape a legal career, both in the UK and internationally.

The diversity of experience among the panellists made the event both accessible and comprehensive, allowing attendees to gain insight into a broad range of sectors and professional environments. The discussion covered a range of legal practice areas, while also highlighting experience within major EU institutions including the Council of the European Union, the European Commission and the Court of Justice of the European Union.

The panel format was especially effective because it grounded these careers in the real experiences of recent Durham alumni and other speakers. Hearing directly about their trajectories made the event more relatable and gave students a stronger sense of how studying EU law as a foundational subject during the LLB degree at Durham can support the development of careers in law. The speakers engaged in detail with questions and offered thoughtful and inspiring perspectives on the realities of working in and around EU law.

The event also reflected DELI’s role in supporting student engagement with EU law and the work of the student organisation committee in bringing together speakers across different career paths. With the invaluable guidance of Professor Barend Van Leeuwen, the student organisers coordinated the panels, speaker invitations and moderation while keeping the focus on the panellists’ expertise and students’ questions.

Tzeitel Muscat, Lawyer at the Council of the European Union, said:

"I truly enjoyed reflecting on my path through the private sector and the EU institutions. It has been a deeply fulfilling journey that underscores the beauty of European law. I hope to have encouraged these talented students to embrace their potential as ‘legal diplomats’, equipped to bring both clarity and a spirit of cooperation to the challenges of our time."

Professor Barend Van Leeuwen, Professor of European Union Law at Durham Law School and Director of DELI, said:

"In 2020, my colleague Irene Wieczorek took the initiative for the first DELI EU Law Careers Event to give students an impression of the different types of career paths that they can follow if they would like to work in the field of EU law. I am very happy that the event could be ‘revived’ this year, and I am very grateful to the organising team for all their hard work. It was very nice to see so many former Durham students and DELI reps return to Durham (even if only virtually) to share their experiences and to provide advice to our current students. The event showed how diverse EU law is, and how many different paths are open to our students: from competition law to extradition law; from energy law to international trade law. Thank you very much to the panellists and the organising team for a great afternoon. I am already looking forward to the next edition of the event next year!"

Shivangi Pandey, Head of the DELI Organisation Committee, noted:

“Planning and organising this event proved the relevance EU law continues to hold for legal practitioners and academics in the UK. Connecting and engaging with all the panellists at the event was a truly rewarding experience. It reflected the strength of Durham Law School’s community and its alumni network and the willingness of its members to offer insight and guidance. It was also a privilege to host non-alumni panellists; their generosity and appreciation towards DELI were especially valued and contributed greatly to the event’s success.”

Raphaella Christoforou, Member of the DELI Organisation Committee for the event, said:

“DELI’s EU Law Careers Event was, by far, one of the most memorable moments of my university experience. The panellists’ insightful discussion of their careers and interactions with EU law, coupled with their willingness to answer our questions, was truly emblematic of what has given our university the ‘Durham difference’; its unwavering commitment to supporting its students in every aspect of our academic lives, including future planning for careers. I definitely felt a new sense of clarity on how, and where, I can utilise my Durham degree to pursue a wide range of successful careers in law. I am also incredibly grateful to DELI for allowing our student-led organising committee to bring this event to life, and I am honoured to have taken part in an event so exemplary of Durham’s spirit of cooperation, leadership and excellence.”

Panagiotis Diamantis, President of the Durham European Law Student Association, commented:

“Attending the EU Law Careers Panel was a fantastic opportunity to hear from leading professionals in the field. The event not only deepened my understanding of careers in EU law but also provided actionable advice for those of us seeking to enter this dynamic and evolving field.”

Notes:

More about the Durham European Law Institute here

More about Professor Barend Van Leeuwen here

More about Durham Law School here

More about Durham Law School Alumni Association here